In a text response essay for Outcome 1 students must demonstrate: • a broad understanding of ideas and perspectives • the construction of strong argumentative paragraphs The activity presented below develops divergent thinking and logical reasoning. It scaffolds students to consider a spectrum of positions on important themes and concepts. It also scaffolds the structuring […]

The history of Malcolm X is very sad, for he was a greatly talented individual denied care and education. The essay below is a reflection on his auto-biography, and presents how improved education and experiences can produce great changes. It also demonstrates how giftedness denied can be perceived as destructive. I have a word document […]

I’m planning here to present through a series of posts the recorded course of activities and discussions that a Year 9 student and I pursued recently. The purpose was to advance the student’s skills in creating and composing poetry. The student immediately achieved excellent ideas and could beautifully describe them in writing, yet lacked an awareness of […]

Comprehension questions serve a purpose in education, but they do not always challenge or inspire. The questions below have proved successful in engaging productive discussion, and encouraging students to attempt to understand complex systems, historical events and conflicting political ideologies/realities. Animal Farm is an excellent allegory; it makes that which appears complicated very simple. These questions appear difficult but […]

We can all make a difference. In 2010 Simon McKeon was recognised as Australian of the Year for “his efforts to support multiple Australian and international charities” (from www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/?m=simon-mckeon-2011). Philanthropy, humanitariansm, and social enterprise deserve and demand attention. I wondered how I might pursue my interests and skills through a social enterprise, and so developed […]

Recent discussions in my course with GERRIC prompted/inspired me to develop an activity that directly addressed and invoked the creative and intellectual skills of gifted students. The activity is similar to one that I’ve used in many classrooms and demands a developed (or developing) capacity for higher-order thinking skills. It is particularly appropriate for Philosophy classes, yet […]

The following is a brief and complicated list of actions suggested for the preparation and successful undertaking of any context SAC. These are skills I’ve often developed with students as an English tutor and mentor to gifted students in Melbourne. A. Establish a time-line for your studies, detailing tasks to complete in the lead-up weeks […]

﻿﻿﻿The study of English in classes all over Melbourne includes the ability to write persuasive pieces. Persuasive writing is tested in scholarship and SEAL exams, and through Outcome 3 and often Outcome 2 in VCE English. As an English tutor and mentor to gifted students in Melbourne I have developed with dozens of young minds […]

Wow. I’ve not been party to the construction, development or administration of a site like this before, and it is complicated. So if you’ve been reading these pages and producing a list of errors and oversights (like I did when I previewed the site), be sure to present your findings in triplicate and lodge […]

Welcome to GBD Educations Services! GBD Education Services is the business of Angus Davison, a sole-trader engaged in education and consultation. I am a qualified and experienced classroom teacher, mainly of English, with experience in teaching in Victoria and overseas and of teaching overseas teachers. My full-time business of private tuition started in 2010 in […]